Derivative

[[File:Image KaitoDerivatives byMami69.jpg|thumb|right|250px|

Description - Image of Shion Mekaito, Taito, Kikaito, Kaiko, Kaito, Akaito, Nigaito. An example of Vocaloid Derivatives.

Source - PIAPRO

Image titled - KAITOだらけ (Full of Kaito)

Author - mami69]]

A Vocaloid Derivative is a VOCALOID character based on existing characters. The term "Derivative" is sometimes difficult to explain and conceptualize. The overseas often call such characters "fan mades" or "fan made characters", but refer to them as a different character entirely. In the Japanese fandom, the character is considered a variation of the original, therefore a "Derivative" is not treated the same way as in the overseas fandoms and therefore the different treatment has resulted in some common mistakes being made in classifying characters from overseas fans.

This also means official derivatives like "Racing Miku" or "Snow Miku" can also be considered a variation of Hatsune Miku and at the same time not Hatsune Miku herself. This way, derivative versions of a character can exist exist side by side in any promotional media base medium with the original character as two different entities to each other.

Crypton Future Media is most known out of the studios for adopting official derivatives into their merchandise. Derivatives are therefore welcome and often developed as a persons interpretation of the Vocaloid they are working with. Many are used by Producers as a form of self-promotion and are taken into account for the number of such designs and appearances in Vocaloid media. If the song is used officially by Crypton Future Media, the Producer's derivative design is also used in the song alongside it, as the design is tied together with the song and there is no sense of familiarity between the two. Crypton Future Media consider them a form of Producer creativity and have adopted the most famous ones into their official character promotions.

However, the sheer number of derivatives that have been produced, particularly in the early 2007-2009 period, have resulted in common generic Vocaloid design traits being acknowledged.


 * Main category: Derivatives and Subderivatives‎

Trivia

 * English: Vocaloid Derivative / Subderivative / Derived
 * Japanese: VOCALOID派生キャラ ← Derived Characters / 亜種 ← Subspecies
 * The original KAITO may sometimes be identified as 'Shion Kaito'; being an assumed surname. It may be carried by "siblings" and other derivatives as well.